Travel Insurance after a Stroke

Travel insurance can give you the protection you need in case the worst happens when you’re aboard.

Medical care in other countries can be expensive, but travel insurance can cover you for the costs of medical emergencies relating to your condition. Without travel insurance in place you’d have to pay for any treatment out of your own pocket.

Everyone’s medical history is different, but we’ll ask you these sorts of questions:

• How many strokes have you had in total?
• How long ago was your last stroke?
• Are you awaiting surgery for this condition and/or for any scans to be performed?
• Have you had any transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), also known as mini-strokes, since your last stroke?
• Do you have an irregular heartbeat/arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation?
• Are you on medication to thin the blood excluding aspirin?

We need to be sure that you’re fit and safe to go abroad. That means we won’t be able to cover you if your doctor says you shouldn’t travel.

Once you’re fit and well, we should be able to cover you.

The NHS says you shouldn’t fly for two weeks after a stroke. After this, you’ll need to get the all-clear from your doctor to confirm you’re fit to fly.

On a long-haul flight, you’re likely to be inactive for a long time. This can slow your blood flow and cause clotting and deep vein thrombosis. You can reduce the risk with exercises, like flexing your ankles, and taking regular walking breaks.

It can be a good idea to let the airline know about your medical needs before your flight. Booking an aisle seat can make it easier to get up and move around.

You should call our 24-hour medical emergency number as soon as possible. We can direct you to the best place to get help. We can even act as a translator between you and the medical team if you don’t speak the language.

If you need to be transported by air ambulance to a more suitable medical facility, then we can do that too.†

A policy with us also means you can be covered for new flights home and the costs for extra accommodation. We can also pay for your travelling companion or partner to fly home with you, as well as providing a trusted person to accompany any children home if they need it.†